Texting behind the wheel and other bad driving habits

bassrique · #1 02-17-2011, 05:42 PM

Here you can anonymously own up to the major offenses I can come up with regards to poor driving habits.

About 90 minutes ago I noticed a lady texting while driving. I looked over in disgust as the light changed to red ahead. I honked my horn to no avail. She looked up at the last second and slammed the brakes.

The poll will be up in a minute...

tplyons · #2 02-17-2011, 06:07 PM

To be honest, I really only tailgate. Not aggressively, just to let them know I'm trying to pass.

I'll read the occasional text while driving, but never reply. If I have to respond, I'll reply with a phone call on Speaker phone.

I'm on the road for 20,000-25,000 miles a year, but I enjoy my time out of contact from society. Time just for myself and my music.

Residential neighborhoods I might go two or three over the speed limit, and five under if there are children present. Just had a ball bounce in front of my car today on the drive home from work, just another reminder why I don't text and drive.

MIJ-VI · #3 02-17-2011, 06:14 PM

http://www.torontosun.com/news/toron.../17072476.html

MIJ-VI · #4 02-17-2011, 06:15 PM

BTW. I don't drive or have a phone.

iamlowsound · #5 02-17-2011, 06:34 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by MIJ-VI

http://www.torontosun.com/news/toron.../17072476.html

I have seen that quite a bit here in Kitchener, I have a car now so I don't have to deal with the bus anymore.

lowsound

Martin89 · #6 02-17-2011, 06:42 PM

I've driven a motorcycle primarily way more than a car or anything else so most of the bad habits never happen because I focus too much on driving. I did pick too fast in residential areas and perma-blinker because these are very rare instances(My signals don't auto-cancel and it's more like I take my time getting down to residential speed;2-3 over).

MIJ-VI · #7 02-17-2011, 06:46 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by iamlowsound

I have seen that quite a bit here in Kitchener, I have a car now so I don't have to deal with the bus anymore.

lowsound

Except for the ones in the on-coming lane or the ones which roar by pedestrians.

My $.02? Bus barns festooned with big posters showing a stack of job applications underscored with the caption:

Phone or text behind the wheel and you're FIRED.

Next!

bass12 · #8 02-17-2011, 06:53 PM

Talking on the phone while driving is stupid enough, but texting? Motor vehicles can cause way too much damage for drivers to be demonstrating such a nonchalant attitude behind the wheel.

chi-town_mike · #9 02-17-2011, 07:17 PM

None of the above. Now it used be quite a few of them. But I trained myself. The military will tell you it takes two weeks for anything to become a habit.

So give yourself two weeks and when you drive, just drive. After a while, like me, you'll get pissed at the people who do that stuff while driving.

I yell at people on their phones. Its awesome.

bassrique · #10 02-17-2011, 07:27 PM

I eat behind the wheel at times, but I only take my eyes of the road for less than a second to pick up my egg sandwich.

I'll take a call if I'm expecting something important. I'll ask for a 20 second summary and I tell the caller I'll either pull over and call back or I'll call back when appropriate.

Arguments have also been known to break out in my car that distract me greatly.

What else did I check? Oh yeah, sometimes music will take my mind off of what I should be focusing on. Damn music.

chi-town_mike · #11 02-17-2011, 08:04 PM

There's a town, perhaps an entire county I think , in Illinois that bans listening to the radio while driving.

Seriously, if the po-po sees to them what looks like you messing with your radio..WHOOP WHOOP WHOOP!!!!! Too far I say.

JimB52 · #12 02-17-2011, 08:08 PM

I knew a guy who said he spanked it on the way to work everyday. I never shook hands with him.

MIJ-VI · #13 02-17-2011, 08:12 PM

'Not texting but definitely distracting.

Martin89 · #14 02-17-2011, 09:05 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by chi-town_mike

There's a town, perhaps an entire county I think , in Illinois that bans listening to the radio while driving.

Seriously, if the po-po sees to them what looks like you messing with your radio..WHOOP WHOOP WHOOP!!!!! Too far I say.

Almost everywhere it's illegal to have earbuds in on a motorcycle so I don't really see a difference.

Quote:

Originally Posted by JimB52

I knew a guy who said he spanked it on the way to work everyday. I never shook hands with him.

That's dedication.

Simo98 · #15 02-17-2011, 09:14 PM

I occasionally read a text message while driving, or look at my phone to see who is ringing.

About the only other thing I do is drink, and occasionally eat. Oh, and when somebody tailgates me real bad for no reason I stick to the speed limit like glue, and occasionally slow right down if they really tick me off.

hbarcat · #16 02-17-2011, 09:43 PM

None of the above.

Driving is inherently hazardous and I don't want to ever be the cause of injury or death to some innocent person because I was a careless jerk behind the wheel of a 2 ton piece of metal traveling at high speed.

If I was the only person on the road (like in the movie, The Omega Man) then it would be a different story.

jrthebassguy · #17 02-17-2011, 09:53 PM

I talk on phone and refuse to ever give that up - I've done it since I've had my learner's permit when I was 15. That was almost 10 years ago and it's never been an issue once. Texting is another issue. I used to think I could text while drive....til I blew out a tire not paying enough attention to the road - frankly it could've been a lot worse. I don't do that anymore.

I also voted for "I get so into the music that's on I'm oblivious". Most music isn't an issue...but my once a week or so craving I get for hardcore and metal sometimes I find myself screaming in the car and get so intense into it I don't realize that I'm doing 85 on a 65 mph freeway.

**bassybill** · #18 02-17-2011, 10:07 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by jrthebassguy

I talk on phone and refuse to ever give that up - I've done it since I've had my learner's permit when I was 15. That was almost 10 years ago and it's never been an issue once.

Sorry - not being holier than thou, but the fact that "it's never been an issue once" does not make it okay. Would you consider reconsidering your refusal to ever give it up if it did become "an issue" at some point in the future? If so, under what circumstances?

jrthebassguy · #19 02-17-2011, 10:20 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by bassybill

Sorry - not being holier than thou, but the fact that "it's never been an issue once" does not make it okay. Would you consider reconsidering your refusal to ever give it up if it did become "an issue" at some point in the future? If so, under what circumstances?

If it hasn't been an issue in 9 and a half years, I don't see that suddenly changing. Either you can handle yourself on the phone while driving or you cannot - right?

I'm well aware there are those who are strongly opinionated against talking while driving and for good reasons. Some people are horrible drivers when they have their phones out and the statistics on phone related car deaths/injuries is certainly a depressing read. It's not like I pull out my phone every time I hit the road, I'm just not opposed to answering the phone if somebody decides to call me while I'm driving.

elgecko · #20 02-17-2011, 10:29 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by chi-town_mike

There's a town, perhaps an entire county I think , in Illinois that bans listening to the radio while driving.

Seriously, if the po-po sees to them what looks like you messing with your radio..WHOOP WHOOP WHOOP!!!!! Too far I say.

Was that the town where they filmed Footloose?